make your prospects feel
less controlled by you and less afraid of a negative response?

Benefits of Active
Listening

It tends to open people up, to get
them to say more.

It forces you to listen attentively
to others.

It avoids misunderstandings, as you
have to confirm that you do really understand what the speaker
has said.

References:

"How To Be Better at Delegation and Coaching", Tony Atherton

What Is Active Listening?

Active listening is a structured form of listening
and responding that focuses the attention on the speaker and motivates
both the speaker and the listener.

Why Active Listening?

Often when people talk to
each other, they don't listen attentively or they don't show the
speaker they're listening. They are often distracted, think about
what they want to say or about something else. Such attitudes often
result in misunderstanding, conflicts, and broken relationships.

Being a great listener benefits
managers by reducing misunderstandings, improving information accuracy, and
ensuring that they have complete information from which to work. Employees,
peers, and even your manager will open up more when they feel listened to... More

12 Active Listening Tips

Mentally put yourself in other person’s
shoes.

Keep the
conversation on what the speaker
says, not on what interests you.

Spend more time listening than talking.

Let the speaker talk. Do not dominate the
conversation and do not interrupt incessantly.

Pay attention, never become preoccupied
with your own thoughts when others talk, take brief notes to concentrate
on what is being said.

Do not finish the sentence of others.

Do not answer questions with questions.

Be aware of biases and
perceptions. Control your
biases and validate your assumptions.

Encourage the speaker, provide feedback
and paraphrase to show you are listening.

Plan responses after the other person has
finished speaking, not while they are speaking.